prodigy

noun

prod·​i·​gy ˈprä-də-jē How to pronounce prodigy (audio)
plural prodigies
1
a
: a highly talented child or youth
b
: an extraordinary, marvelous, or unusual accomplishment, deed, or event
2
a
: something extraordinary or inexplicable
b
: a portentous event : omen

Did you know?

Is a prodigy a genius or a monster - or both? Nowadays, it's the talent that shines through, but back in the 15th century the word's meaning was more strongly influenced by that of its Latin ancestor, prodigium, meaning "omen" or "monster." Back then, a prodigy could be any strange or weird thing that might be an omen of things to come. Even in modern English, the word sometimes refers to an extraordinary deed or accomplishment. P.G. Wodehouse used that sense when he described how a character named Pongo Twistleton was "performing prodigies with the [billiard] cue."

Examples of prodigy in a Sentence

a new drug that is being hailed as the latest prodigy of the medical world
Recent Examples on the Web Directed by Richard Shephard, this psychological horror-thriller centers on Charlotte (Allison Williams), a music prodigy who abruptly stops playing the cello to care for her sick mother. Travis Bean, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024 Lamorne Morris joined the cast in Season 2 as a biotech prodigy named Peter, along with Iris Apatow as a new intern at Dragon — and a love interest for Jackson. Andy Swift, TVLine, 11 Oct. 2024 Fortune Once considered a Goldman Sachs prodigy, Edward Eisler set out to create his own hedge fund three years ago. Jason Ma, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2024 In addition to Barrymore, Gen X's ultimate child star, Lovato conducts conversations with Christina Ricci, Kenan Thompson, and a crop of child prodigies from the generations that followed, including Alyson Stoner, Jojo Siwa, and Raven-Symoné. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prodigy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prodigy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin prodigium omen, monster, from pro-, prod- + -igium (akin to aio I say) — more at adage

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Time Traveler
The first known use of prodigy was in the 15th century

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Dictionary Entries Near prodigy

Cite this Entry

“Prodigy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prodigy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

prodigy

noun
prod·​i·​gy ˈpräd-ə-jē How to pronounce prodigy (audio)
plural prodigies
1
: an amazing event or action : wonder
2
: an unusually talented child

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